The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-04
rHs ADMISSION or UrAH.
HI 0eerre Tiek.er Cartis Expsunds TIE
Fvepesed Constellation.

10 no noceesity whatever for the people and
Government Of the United States to trouble
themselves about the religious doctrine Of the
Mormon Church on the subject of marriage
when the admission Of Utah ~ state under
tho proposed Constitution comes TO be acted
on In Congress. nor 10 II Of any consequences
that :his Constitution was framed by Con-
vention composed exclusively or chiefly OF
hormons, or that II was q voluntary assembly.
not called together By any authority Of law.
Federal or Territorial The people OF any
community have an inalienablo right to as
semblo and lay their wishes before the ruling
powers; and II the Mormons Of Utah have
framed y Constitution that ought to be- salts
factory to the country In the matter Of polyRs-
my. Il Is not Of the slightest consequence
whether they we're asked or authorized 70 do
90 w any legislative authority.
In one aspect 1t IL fortunate that this Consti-
tuition was framed by = Mormon body. because
1t Ii to bs Judxed upon It's merits aud because
its provisions show what the Mornions are will.
Ing and anxious to do. Moreover. the Consti-
tuition has been submitted to q preliminary
popular vote. at the leg: general election In the
Territory. and II was approved BY an almost
unanimous Mormon vote.
The charge that Its trainers and supporters
are seeking 10 play trick. and that when the
Territory has been admitted as q State
the anti.polygsmy section will be repealed
10 nothing but ridiculous attempt to awaken
popular prejudice and distrust This transpa-
rent nonsense will be appreciated bv every In
telltgent person who reads the provisions OF
this Constitution. which render II wholly I'M
belief ABOUT marriage. or to consider whether
the Mormons Of Utah. In what tney propose to
mako the fundamental law VI their new state,
are cons .stent or inconsistent with their pro-
iessed religious beliefs.
There are very few persons outside Of the
pale VI the Mormon Church who are qualified
to state accurately what their religious Ueiief
is on the subject oil MARI. age and theirs IL now
slider It. The only question Tor Congress 10
whether the Guarantees and oompacts en-
6rseed IN their proposed Consti!Hlion, can he
rulled upon W the people oil the United 81 ates.
Ing words:
4 s,s.Sy and poysamy being eea
.rnmsnL each Of hem l. s.rsby torS,ddsn and s 4.
Any p.r.on violate this section shall on con.
eon mi S;r :: ID BY n' Of no. NOR. than
month. nor mere than sLs.; years IN he d.crstIon q
hi. .sson .h. NOT Ss S.rrea ~ any Statute Of ni
Sss {: :SS e !; i: &
Il will thus be seen that this. provision re-
enires for its operation no legislation what.
Il And punishments inflicted and the pur,iUn.
sSs lands d IL The ' Psssasa u he
Every properly constructed Constitution es-
tabltshinR q hepu can form Of government"
It. Accordingly this Constituti"n eontains IN
article prescribing the manner IN which amend
msn ss ~ must se ,rame4 and adopted; gut tue
Ing proviso expressly drawn and devised so as
to prevent any amendment or change In the
aanti.polygamJ section without the assent OF
pSssd ma. section y Of article ~: shall 10, ,.
:s.i .ddi,'n !" Il. r.sailsa.ns 4 'Ss rros,.s,:
a'
.ns IS s.s: .a Il 20
proclaimed. said '+ctiOn shsi rsma'n perpetual
1t will be great mistake for Congress to as
power would not be a valid. binding. and ef-
ficient compact between tile people oi the State
Ta :dt ~ r. 3: sdst. q ss EaSs
Hecls!ly % ior . new State. when i enters the
ss sss ssS
United States ias sSbori ord is sone re
3 e .sa SsSs 4. fss:!a
Tha. CONSTITUTION lays several prohibitions
~h 'hf they STATE" Would SSsPss. to h .S
do ono OF those prohibited things. the remedy
Federal action against tie state ITSELF In It's
political and corporate caparity: It would be
against individuals. BY Federal legislation that
tween their state and the United .;tates. 1t is
that the government Of the UnitsJ States ss cam
&C, act on tndiyiduals when their States under.
.ne .hsS viii ao
the extrenie superstition Ir adopted. or BY fore
east Anticipated. that the Mormons Of Utah.
the proposed Constitution. will attempt to
chance their Constitution In the matter Of
,Ss Fslsr vii hsS %,
NO difficulty In making the change utterly VOID.
Indeed, II would be void for any beneficial
right Of plural n,arriaEe: This consideration
doctrine Of marriage will become as soon AS
ps.. the , STATE l Fl g,s other tonic
h Sssn hs h.
ago in the prsi Scott case. sup:
poe every ~ Teli ni9rsd ; Son.,tu,iEnai
8 r. %sass ss va V. 'is !Rs sS 5ss
and govern those peculiar Dependencies called
TERRITORIES Is In the third sectioI Of Article Nv.
OI tn6 CONSTITUTION OF tnS Snlteu StatSS: tnat
this section imposes unon Congress trust the
proper discharge OF which requires that every
Territory shall he brought into the Union rs
State a. soon ~ its inhabitants de-ire It,
and hey have tho requisite numbers aud re-
sources to sustain State Government. 1t IL
not not = proper discharge Of the trus, e. keep any
Territory, thereby. keeping open a field for
the exercise OF Federal patronage and power.
What shall be deemed sufficient population
has alied In different cases, and will always
vary. But in the case Of Utah there can be
no question Of q sufficient population and ro-
sources. Utah Is the Oldest Territory tina, the
United States pOssossea. and II has larger
population than any other dependency Of
the United States. excepting the District OF
Columbia,
Il have lately. Rad. In the Desra E"enino
Mars. published 10 SAT- Lake City. an excellent
exposition In which entirely concur-that no
Territory has or can have, so Ling MS i remains
Territory republican form Of govern
ment." 10 the proper sense of those descriptive
terms. Territorial government Is not self
government or homo rule. ~ Utah. although
there is y Legislature elected by the people. no
bill can become O law without the Governors
annroval. AMI he Il not OBLIGED to veto u bill or
% render any reason for not signing IT, He
4, 4.